Seán Cox to travel to England to receive specialist speech and movement therapy

Seán Cox is to travel to the UK for specialist treatment to help him improve his speech.

The Meath man was left with serious brain injuries after he was attacked by rival Roma fans before a Champions League semi-final in Anfield in April 2018.

His attacker, Italian man Simone Mastrelli, 30, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for the vicious assault.

While a second Roma fan Filippo Lombardi, 21, was cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox, but was jailed for three years for violent disorder.

Seán’s wife Martina said her husband’s progress had been “extremely slow”

Mr Cox had been undergoing treatment in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire but is set to move to a specialist neurological facility in the north of England.

The 12-week programme is focused on developing his speech and movement.

In a statement, his wife Martina said her husband’s progress had been “extremely slow”, adding that his speech remains “very challenged”.

‘It is unlikely that he ever will walk again which is difficult to accept for someone as active as Seán used to be,’ she said.

Mrs Cox revealed the family home in Dunboyne, Co Meath is being renovated to make it wheelchair accessible.

The family have put in place specialist equipment and have renovated their home in the hope Seán will be able to return home in December.

Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum and Andrew Robertson hold up a banner in support of Liverpool fan Sean Cox. The family will return to Anfield next month to watch Liverpool play Pic: REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo

She said: ‘Being able to bring Seán to England for rehabilitation and, in time, having him spend more time in our adapted home is all privately funded and has been made possible by the generosity of so many people and organisations who took Seán into their hearts.’

‘The Cox family remain hugely grateful on Seán’s behalf for the ongoing show of support.’

The Cox family will make an emotional return to Anfield next month to watch Liverpool play after being invited back as a guest of the club’s CEO Peter Moore.